Almost a quarter of general practice nurses (GPNs) have reported that collective action taken by GPs is having a negative effect on patient care, a Nursing in Practice survey has found.
Though half (50.5%) of respondents said they ‘strongly’ or ‘somewhat’ agree with the current action being taken.
GP practices across England have been taking collective action – including limiting patient contacts, declining non-contractual work and refusing to sign new contracts with NHS England or local integrated care boards – since August.
Our sister title Pulse revealed today that 70% of GPs in England are engaging with the British Medical Association (BMA)’s collective action, with 41% limiting the number of patients appointments they do and 42% having stopped rationing referrals, investigations and admissions.
When the action began in the summer, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) advised GPNs to continue to work as normal but recognised the ‘knock-on effect’ it would likely have on the profession.
A Nursing in Practice survey of more than 550 nursing staff working in GP practices suggests there are some concerns over the impact of the actions being taken on patients.
Some 24% of respondents said GP collective action in England has had a ‘very’ or ‘somewhat’ negative effect on patient care.
One practice nurse responding to the survey said there was also ‘more pressure on nurses’ since the action began. Another added that referrals were being ‘rejected more and more’.
However, a significant 43% said the action has had ‘little or no’ impact on patient care and 5% suggested it had instead had a positive effect on patient care. Almost a third (29%) were unsure.
Our survey also found 50.5% of GP nursing staff ‘strongly’ or ‘somewhat’ agree with the action being taken, while 9% said they ‘somewhat’ or ‘strongly’ disagreed. Some 28% said they neither agreed or disagreed and 12% were unsure.
Doctors’ Association UK GP spokesperson Dr Steve Taylor told our sister title Pulse that with so many practices taking action of some sort it shows the need for GPs ‘to be taken seriously’ when it comes to the amount of extra work that ‘they have been asked to do for no extra funding’.
He said it was ‘vital that the government makes funding available now to ensure GPs can continue to provide the services they need to for patients’.
As reported earlier this week, our survey also revealed that half of general practice nursing staff across the UK have reported they have not yet received a pay rise for 2024/25.
Survey results:
What effect has the collective action by GP practices had on patient care?
- It has had a very negative effect on patient care: 6%
- It has had a somewhat negative effect on patient care: 18%
- It has had little or no effect on patient care: 43%
- It has had a somewhat positive effect on patient care: 3%
- It has had a very positive effect on patient care: 2%
- It has had a very positive effect on patient care: 29%
Do you agree with the current collective action being taken by GP practices?
- Agree strongly: 20%
- Agree somewhat: 30%
- Neither agree nor disagree: 28%
- Disagree somewhat: 6%
- Disagree strongly: 3%
- Don’t know 12%
This survey was open from 20 September until 18 October 2024, collating responses using the SurveyMonkey tool. A total of 552 general practice nursing staff responded to these questions from across the UK, with the majority within England. The survey was advertised to our readers via our website and email newsletter, with a prize draw for £100 vouchers as an incentive to complete the survey. The survey was unweighted, and we do not claim this to be scientific – only a snapshot.
